Heartbeat: World of Work to give opportunities for unemployed

December 12, 2019

World of Work (WoW), a unique work experience placement programme designed and funded for job seekers and unemployed people aged 25 plus is now being delivered by our organisation thanks to a successful bid made through Birmingham City Council.

To be eligible for the scheme individuals need to meet the referral criteria and live within the Birmingham and Solihull catchment area. Led by Liza Gill, Volunteer Service Manager, the programme aims to attract 150 unemployed or job-seeking residents. Over a year they will be separated into five groups. Each cohort will attend an eight-week training programme. Over that time they’ll be upskilled to help them approach the world of work with confidence.

Launched on 4 November, so far 16 people have enrolled in the first training programme. They will benefit from a thorough induction, a work experience placement as well as interview and CV workshops. There will also be the opportunity to benefit from further education, training or to even join an apprenticeship.

There’s even the possibility of joining our inhouse Trust Bank agency. Everything has been planned to help attendees apply for future job roles.

An innovative project steering group has been formed by Eddie Edmead, Major Grants Manager for Your Trust Charity and incorporates several representatives from key departments around our organisation. Eddie led the way securing funds for this project, working closely with Birmingham City Council, Department of Works and Pensions and the European Social Fund.

He also ran one of the very first sessions and said: “We are enthusiastic about this new and exciting venture. We’re looking forward to achieving some great outcomes with the work placements within our Trust, as well as potentially with partnership service providers.”

Liza Gill, Volunteer Service Manager, added: “We’re thrilled to see this programme launch. A lot of hard work has gone into it from all involved. We’ve got a comprehensive training plan in place for all attendees. We’ll also be offering tailored support throughout to help achieve the best outcomes.”

If you’d like any further information about WoW, please contact Liza Gill on 0121 5074891.